Game 2011 Playoffs.3: Yankees at Tigers

(see if you can spot the difference between this image and the game 1 image)

The ALCS moves to Detroit tonight for game 3. Game time temperature should be in the mid-60s, and it should slide down into the 50s throughout the game. But no rain in sight. (Mike Napoli just went yard, again, Rangers up 2-1.)

Yesterday’s game was almost too much to take. We seemed destined to be another anecdote in Yankee’s lore after the Avila slip. If anyone believes in his stuff it’s Valverde. Bravo Papa Grande. I know he threw 30+ or something yesterday, but I’m pretty sure that he’s avail tonight if we need him. I don’t think Benoit will be.

Today’s news is the lineup changes – Maggs slides down to 6, Avila to 8, and Santiago to 2. Santiago hits CC decently well (.294) and plays better D, so he gets the nod over Raburn. According to Jimmy, Avila has been pressing a bit, so hopefully the 8 hole will help him get something going.

87 Comments

Same here, just speechless that one of our worst hitters is all of a sudden in the 2 spot in the most important game of the year. What a crock.

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 9:40 pm

Not the lineup I would have either. I’d prefer Maggs hitting 2nd with Raburn at 2B 6th or 7th.

TSE

October 3, 2011 at 10:06 pm

Yeah it’s playoff time, and Ramon had a big single tonight, but still it just makes no sense to put him out there, you have to go with your best, and Raburn is the better player. Not by a ton because of Ramon’s SH ability and good defense, but still both players are about equivalent hitters in terms of average, but Raburn’s extra power is worth more than the areas Ramon has an advantage.

And Maggs defense doesn’t count in this point as well since he’s in the game regardless, and as a hitter he’s definitely better or worthy of being considered a better hitter than Raburn so it would have made more sense to do it your way in that regard too.

I’m also not a fan of DY batting 3rd, but whatever. At least we are tied for now and have a chance so that’s cool.

TSE

October 3, 2011 at 10:25 pm

Anyhow in other news, Santiago for MVP tonight? lol

Chris

October 3, 2011 at 8:49 pm

Man! the Yankees know how to get to JV.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 8:56 pm

AJax works an 8-pitch walk, then Ramon with the 1st pitch GIDP…this could be a frustrating night…

kathy

October 3, 2011 at 9:06 pm

that a was rally killer if I ever saw one.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 9:10 pm

I was hoping for SB, then bunt him to 3rd…silly me…

Kevin in Dallas

October 3, 2011 at 8:58 pm

JV will settle down. Lots of baseball to play.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm

CC does not look at all comfortable–he even walked Delmon Young, which ain’t easy. Bad AB for Ramon, or this could’ve been a huge 1st inning.

Kevin in Dallas

October 3, 2011 at 9:04 pm

If anything we’re working CC for 28+.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 9:12 pm

At least Ramon turning the DP at 2nd is preferable to Raburn Roulette.

Chris

October 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm

It sucks being 2 runs in the hole. Hopefully our offense can continue being very Yankee like against CC.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 9:18 pm

CC clearly has a game plan…all walks and GIDPs

Chris

October 3, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Frustrating!

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 9:22 pm

This is so frustrating….Sabathia is giving them baserunners and they are just erasing them….

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 9:23 pm

Shades of 2006 WS

Joe

October 3, 2011 at 9:28 pm

Lets get some hits!

Kevin in Dallas

October 3, 2011 at 9:35 pm

Ump is giving these to us.

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 9:43 pm

Ugh….another DP…at least it is even now…

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

Man…that could have been such a bigger inning…..hopefully Verlander can keep it going and the offense can keep chipping away at Sabathia…

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

Another DP – sick. Well, at least it tied the game, but a chance to blow CC away lost.

Kevin in Dallas

October 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

Cabrera and VMart will get theirs.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:24 pm

Who needs them, we’ve got Inge and Santiago

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 9:48 pm

5 DPs in 6 half-innings – maybe we’ll see history made tonight!

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Sabathia looks like he needs a cheeseburger and a nap.

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 10:00 pm

Crap….kinda looks like Sabathia is settling in….

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:10 pm

Let him settle in, Justin is on fire

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 10:11 pm

JV – 10 pitches, 9 strikes, 3 Ks. That’s more like it.

Joe

October 3, 2011 at 10:12 pm

Lets get some runs!

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:14 pm

It worked last time!

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:26 pm

Joe is 2-for-2…DTW POG!

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:16 pm

Inge = POG (or maybe that guy who is pitching)

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 10:19 pm

I see a two year extension for the Inge.

Good idea to have Jackson bunt there. He can’t hit a lick and we may only need 1 run.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:19 pm

Ramon Are-You-Kidding-Me Santiago!!!

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 10:20 pm

POG is Santiago, who shouldn’t even be in the lineup

Slashpyne

October 3, 2011 at 10:23 pm

Smart baserunning, Ramon!

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 10:31 pm

Isn’t it an inning early to replace Maggs? He leads off the bottom of the 6th.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 10:34 pm

I’m guessing Leyland is expecting a RHP to relieve Sabathia to start the inning

Didn’t Zumaya have some sort of record for consecutive 100 mph+ pitches in a playoff game? And did Verlander just break it?

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 11:29 pm

What the hell?

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 11:30 pm

Disregard….just saw a crazy post on here that was apparently deleted…

Kevin in Dallas

October 3, 2011 at 11:32 pm

I deleted it. Joe – you are welcome to post, but we don’t need any of that.

Joe

October 3, 2011 at 11:38 pm

What? Not me, What are you talking about?

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 11:41 pm

I’m guessing a different “Joe”

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 11:42 pm

Fasten your seatbelts boys and girls, here we go!

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 11:45 pm

Papa Todd Jones

Brenden

October 3, 2011 at 11:45 pm

Not this again….

Joe

October 3, 2011 at 11:46 pm

Ok, now 1 more out!!

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 11:48 pm

A game-ending caught stealing would’ve been awesome there

Kevin in Dallas

October 3, 2011 at 11:49 pm

Come on PG.

Coleman

October 3, 2011 at 11:53 pm

Jeters never prosper.

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 11:53 pm

Finally.

bluekat

October 3, 2011 at 11:54 pm

Striking out Jeter to win the game is sweet

Vince in MN

October 3, 2011 at 11:56 pm

Sweet Potato

Kevin in Dallas

October 4, 2011 at 12:00 am

Props to JV. He did what he needed to win, and saved us Benoit for tomorrow. We’re gonna win this thing tomorrow friends.

Coleman

October 4, 2011 at 12:08 am

The key to the game was letting CC throw a ton of pitches, and getting to the middle part of their bullpen. And a huge contribution from the little bats, Inge, Santiago, Kelly. And also JV, because he didn’t have it, found it, then lost it, then collected himself and got through. Not many guys can do that.

Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi

October 4, 2011 at 12:10 am

Yankee Manager Joe G. Already whining about the narrow strike zone! Ahem, Verlander had 11 Ks. Delmon, your are a gem and a blessing! (And your family is from my hometown of Vicksburg!)

Stormin Norman$

October 4, 2011 at 12:10 am

That was pretty freakin tense. Verlander and the bottom of the order (and D-Young) carried the evening.

Well Scherzer pitched the game of his career in NY, can Porcello follow suit tomorrow? I think Verlander summed it up best in his postgame interview, “hopefully we can get a bunch of runs early so he (Porcello) can settle in”.

VMart and Avila are due – the Tigers do need to get to Burnett early.

End it in front of the home crowd, so NY doesn’t get a chance to do the same.

Stormin Norman$

October 4, 2011 at 12:26 am

The much maligned Burnett has an ERA over 5.00 and he’s given up 31 HRs this year…. so logic would dictate the Tigers should pound him tomorrow right?

Burnett’s only start in Comerica this year – he pitched 7 innings and gave up only 2 ER and 3 hits. Burnett actually pitches better against lefties (.256 BA, .777 OPS and 13HRs) than righties (.264 BA, .831 OPS and 18HRs).

NOTE to Tigers: Burnett has 25 wild pitches this year – and a WP tonight could be a game changer

Coleman

October 4, 2011 at 4:46 pm

With Tiger baserunners, a wild pitch is often just a clever way to get an out.

The Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi

October 4, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Let me recall 06OCT09 when the Tigers played the Twins in a 163rd game playoff. It was the day Little Ricky Porcello became a man. He gave it his all and pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits with 8Ks and 2BBs keeping the Tigers in the game. Inasmuch Mr. Porcello has a good playoff record and good playoff experience (it was his rookie year!). If he can do the same tonight (and the middle of the lineup hits) we should have the completion of a magic series! And given his “away in the Twinkie Dome” experience, I expect Porcello to be cool and calm tonight and one that thrives on such competition. (Hmmm….didn’t Verlander say the same after last night’s game?)

Andrew in Toronto

October 4, 2011 at 5:13 pm

Tonight’s pitching is probably an even match.

When you adjust for park effects, I think Porcello and Burnett have the same ERA+.

On the other hand, when you adjust for park effects, the Tigers have a more potent offense than NY (OPS+) and are playing at home.

I like our chances, but let’s not count on Burnett pitching like a bum.

Latest Comments

jud I know it was only an exhibition game ...but...I don't know if I can take that much hysterical laughter from

Coleman http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12413132&categoryid=2521705
On the other hand, Verlander is "confident" and "ready to go," so there's that.

Smoking Loon Good article, Kevin.
Did anyone else have the thought last year that perhaps the biggest problem with Verlander was... predictability? He

Kevin in Dallas Neither does this story.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/detroit_tigers_bring_back_righ_1.html

Kevin in Dallas This picture does not instill a whole bunch of confidence.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/#/0

Coleman Check out this one: http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/report_relief_pitcher_joba_cha.html#incart_more_sports
He shaved the beard! And looks like he dropped a few pounds too.

StorminNorman$ http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/110232762/joba-chamberlain-signs-with-detroit-tigers
low price, potential high yield... or maybe not. Whatever the case, Joba certainly said all the right things.

Jim EggersUSMC I concur K in D, am hoping for a good but not great season from JV. Seemed to me he

StorminNorman$ Great info/research Kevin! One point to clarify and factor into the analysis: JV did make $20M last year, but

Coleman Verlander had core muscle surgery last January. Could it be, at his age, and with the type of pitcher he